Azerbaijan: talks on WTO accession held in Geneva

Another round of talks on Azerbaijan’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) started in Geneva, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said.

According to the ministry, at the negotiations the Azerbaijani delegation was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammad-Guliyev.

Earlier, Chidu Osakwe, director of the WTO office of accession, said the changes taking place in the Azerbaijani economy, the ongoing reforms, in particular in agriculture, would be discussed at the meeting.

Osakwe said meetings were planned to be held between representatives of Azerbaijan and the WTO member states, and the Azerbaijani side would respond to the questions submitted at a meeting in 2015.

He said the meeting participants would inquire into Azerbaijan’s ability to support the economy given low oil prices and whether Baku had an economic development strategic plan in such a situation.

To date, Norway, Russia and Saudi Arabia have expressed intention to hold bilateral talks with Azerbaijan on the issue, but it is not ruled out that the number of such countries will increase, Mammad-Guliyev said.

Azerbaijan has had an observer status at the WTO since 1997. A working party on Azerbaijan was established on July 16, 1997, at the organization.

Azerbaijan began negotiations with WTO member states in 2004. Currently, it negotiates with 19 countries.

As of today, Azerbaijan has completed the negotiations and has signed protocols with Turkey, Oman, the UAE, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan.